Prime Minister Emil Boc, Minister of Administration and Interior Vasile Blaga and Transport Minister Radu Berceanu have attended today the inauguration of the railway border crossing point at Ungheni, Iasi County.
The Head of the Executive stated that Romania is today one more step ahead, in the accession to Schengen Area, through opening the new state border crossing point; our country's effective accession to the Schengen Area is to take place on March 2011. PM Emil Boc stated that securing the eastern border of the European Union is a huge responsibility for Romania since it is about the security of 500 million EU citizens.
Minister of Administration and Interior, Mr. Vasile Blaga stated that the entry into the Schengen area on March 27, 2011 is a strategic objective of Romania, and with a view to achieving it, there has been earmarked 500 million EUR from Schengen Facility and 200 million EUR from national funds. "Through entry into the Schengen Area, we fulfill a dream of Romanians, to travel freely within the EU", Minister of Administration and Interior has stated.
Prime Minister Emil Boc has mentioned that Romania extends a special attention to the relation with the Republic of Moldova and will back this country to have a European future.
The Head of the Executive has also mentioned a decision made by the Romanian Government to extend an non -refundable aid worth 100 million EUR to the Republic of Moldova. "Romania and the Republic of Moldova have a common future in EU. We approach with the utmost attention the relationship with our brothers from across the Prut, " PM Emil Boc stated, in this context that once with granting the first permits for small border traffic, as of March 31, approximately one million citizens of the Republic of Moldova, of 361 eligible municipalities will be able to come and stay in Romania for up to 90 days, thus making small border traffic specific to all EU countries.
“We expect our brothers from across the Prut with great love in our country. We talk of people living at 50 km from the border with Romania and I am convinced that many citizens of the Republic of Moldova will live in this part of the border henceforth too’, Minister of Administration and Interior Vasile Blaga has stated in turn.
The Agreement on small-scale border traffic concluded between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova entered into force on February 26th.
This agreement allows residents of both countries, who have resided, at least for one year, in a town situated close to the border, to travel without visas in the area similar in size located in the other country, based on small-scale border traffic permits and a valid passport.